Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-01-17
alouihs' Column.
DANGER SIGNALS

New Years day was drawing 10 its
close. and IS the hush Of the evening
fell ST last upon the world. II seemed
10 brlng with II reaciion Of quiet
seriousness. even for young hearts
which for week past had been ali
aglow With festive merIiment.
Cramps Raymond sat quietly
dreaming IN the freight. his eyes ev-
identity looking backward rather than
forward. with that peaceful. medita-
tive gaze which comes from silver
hairs. and he bad scarcely noticed
/ the gathering OF the boys around
him. Till reused from his TeveTie by
the familiar cry OF - story. grand
ps. DO give u s story
A story" repeated grandpa. as
though reused from : veTi5abIe
dream. well. just IS it happens, ny
thoughts for an hour past have been
carrying NE back TO this very night
neaTly sixty years ago. a night which
left impressions on ny mind never
since forgotten. and Of which l will
willingly tell you
As you know. I was st that time
quite lad. 3 thoughtless, wayward
boy. living still in dear old England
ST ny fathers home in Surrey; but
with the coming of Christmas. had
gone 10 spend the holidays with
schoolmate in the sea-giTt shire Of
Cornwall. The week was 5 happy
one. filed with an excess Of gayety
that left little leisure for other
thought, and it was with somewhat
OF regret that. s. my visit drew 10 an
end. received 81 urgent invitation
from Sd old friend OF ny fathers,
living : mile or two across the broad
Cornish moor. TO spend the last day
with him.
Not over eager 10 leave ny gay,
young companions, l allowed the
merry New Year day TO glide by,
and il was already evening when ST
lasl started On ny solitary walk.
Here George. you had better take
lantern said ny friend. IS I was
leaving. ii viii be dark IS EgYpt
before you reach the end OF your
journey; and il Is dangerous Cross
ing our moors after night
Twas busily talking st the mo-
ment. and paid little heed to the
words; but taking the pTofered Ian
tern, went on ny way, swinging il
lightly in ny hand, IS I whistled
= merry sir.
Truly the short winter evening did
close II rapidly. and darkness, ike
swift gathering cloud. fell over the
land and sea. Sill l marched stur-
Oily on. having been given explicit
directions regarding ny road, and
ny thoughts were far away. when
abruptly the light Of my lantern
flashed upon 3 sign-boaId imnedi-
ately in front Of ne, and, SIS though
3 hand had suddenly touched ne,
paused. startled by The word that
net ny gaze-.Beware" Beware Of
pitfalls
I looked about NE with : quick,
beating heart, and instantly realized
ny danger Truly, Il was 10 inag-
mary one Within : few steps Of
ne yawned aD open chasm. the half
covered entrance TO one OF those
shafts or the CoTDisE mines long ago
opened and abandoued- 4 vague
recollection now crossed ny mind OF
having heard the startling fact that
the vide ncors of Cornwall were
thickly strewn with these terrible pit
falls. INTO which many s luckless
foot hsd strayed. and within the 81
lent darkness OF which lay doubtless
many 81 unfortunate traveller, bur-
led in an uDkBoRn grave These
EeEe the dangers. then. amid = hich l
had been 50 heedlessly. careIessly
walking Forward I must go. but i
would NJ 10 longer in that thought
less mood Every foot OF the way
must be carefully scanned, and for
the first tine il ny life. perhaps,
there arose from NJ heart q genuine
prayer for guidance and protection.
while with steps slow and cautious
sought 10 follow closely the light Is
suing from tie laBtern,
But ever and anon. ike Z voice in
the dark. CLEANED forth that warning
~ord-.Bs~are And each time
ny heart tbuobbed afresb, knowing
that theIe was but step between ne
and death. Il was q long and SOL
emn walk. and when al last ny des-
tinatiOn was reached I looked back
across that dark. silent moor. with
/ emotions 6liiBg ~ heart which have
left ne 10 this day 3 better and more
thoughtful nan.
And now. ny boys" continued
grandpa, If you viii listen. I will
tell you Of another journey over q
far broader moor. In which I have
also met these sane danger signals
al along the way Al il vefy oat-
ct might well he written those
words. Beware Of pitfalls. for It Is
indeed full Of them. and the Friend
aRaillng Us Cd the Other side has not
left us 10 walk amid then unwarned.
In the guide book given Is, mark
ing well The way, among liz early
pages Ne meet the first warning IS il
stands above 3 vide open pit-.Be-